[Safety of device implantation under antipatelet therapy with ticagrelor: About 20 cases]. / Implantation de pacemaker et de défibrillateurs cardiaques sous ticagrelor : à propos de 20 patients.

INTRODUCTION: Management of antiplatelet therapy at the time of device implantation remains controversial. This study aimed to assess the risk of bleeding complications in patients receiving ticagrelor at the time of cardiac device surgery. METHODS: We performed a multicentre (n=4), retrospective study from January 2015 to January 2016. The survey included all patients (pts) treated with ticagrelor before undergoing pacemaker, implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) implantation or generator replacement. We report hemorrhagic post-procedural complications at 1 month. A significant bleeding complication was defined as pocket hematoma requiring a surgical evacuation or prolonged hospitalization, hemothorax, pericardial effusion, or tamponade. RESULTS: A total of 20 patients underwent a permanent pacemaker or ICD implantation while taking a combination of antipatelet therapy with ticagrelor and aspirin. The mean age of the patients was 65±9 years, 95% were male, 25% of patients were diabetics, 55% had hypertension and 50% presented a history of heart failure. All the patients had a history of acute coronary syndrome [6 (4-26) months before the procedure]. The majority of implanted devices were ICDs (17, 85%) with 5 single chamber, 4 dual chambers and 9 triple chambers ICDs. Subclavian venous approach was utilized in 9 patients. The mean duration of procedure was 60minutes. One per-procedure bleeding was described due to high venous pressure, without post-procedure hematoma. A post-procedure pocket hematoma has been experienced by one patient. The subclavian approach was used for the 2 patients. No blood transfusion was needed for these 2 cases. CONCLUSION: Ticagrelor treatment at the time of heart rhythm device procedures does not seem to be associated with an increased risk of significant bleeding complications. In our study, 2 patients experienced nonsignificant bleeding complications.

Safety of device implantation under antipatelet therapy with ticagrelor: About 20 cases.

INTRODUCTION: Management of antiplatelet therapy at the time of device implantation remains controversial. This study aimed to assess the risk of bleeding complications in patients receiving ticagrelor at the time of cardiac device surgery. METHODS: We performed a multicentre (N=4), retrospective study from January 2015 to January 2016. The survey included all patients (pts) treated with ticagrelor before undergoing pacemaker, implantable-cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) implantation or generator replacement. We report haemorrhagic post-procedural complications at 1 month. A significant bleeding complication was defined as pocket hematoma requiring a surgical evacuation or prolonged hospitalization, hemothorax, pericardial effusion or tamponade. RESULTS: A total of 20 patients underwent a permanent pacemaker or ICD implantation while taking a combination of antipatelet therapy with ticagrelor and aspirin. The mean age of the patients was 65±9 years, 95% were male, 25% of patients were diabetics, 55% had hypertension and 50% presented a history of heart failure. All the patients had a history of acute coronary syndrome (6 [4-26] months before the procedure). The majority of implanted devices were ICDs (17, 85%) with 5 single chamber, 4 dual chambers and 9 triple chambers ICDs. Subclavian venous approach was utilized in 9 patients. The mean duration of procedure was 60minutes. One per-procedure bleeding was described due to high venous pressure, without post-procedure hematoma. A post-procedure pocket hematoma has been experienced by one patient. The subclavian approach was used for the 2 patients. No blood transfusion was needed for these 2 cases. CONCLUSION: Ticagrelor treatment at the time of heart rhythm device procedures does not seem to be associated with an increased risk of significant bleeding complications. In our study, 2 patients experienced non significant bleeding complications.

[Evolution of the interventional reperfusion strategy and reperfusion times in acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction]. / Évolution de la prise en charge interventionnelle et des délais de reperfusion à la phase aiguë de l'infarctus du myocarde avec sus-décalage du segment ST.

BACKGROUND: In patients with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention (pPCI), the recommended times (first medical contact-to-balloon (M2B) <120 or <90min, and door-to-balloon (D2B) <45min) are reached in less than 50% of patients. PURPOSE: To compare the interventional reperfusion strategy and reperfusion times between two series of consecutive STEMI patients referred for pPCI within 12hours of symptom onset, in 2007 and 2012. METHODS: Retrospective study of 182 patients, 87 admitted from January 2007 to March 2008 (period 1), and 95 admitted from January to December 2012 (period 2). The procedural characteristics and the different times between onset of pain and mechanical reperfusion were gathered and compared by non-parametric tests. RESULTS: Radial access, thromboaspiration, and drug eluting stents were more frequent, and cardiogenic shock was less common during period 2, compared with the period 1. The median time from first medical contact to balloon (M2B) decreased by 26% (135min, [quartiles: 113-183] in 2007 versus 100 [76-137] in 2012, P<0.001), in relation to the reduction in both prehospital times and time in the catheterization laboratory (D2B: 51 [44-65] and 44min [37-55], respectively, P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The D2B and M2B times significantly decreased in our centre between 2007 and 2012, and reached the recommended values in >60% of the cases. This may be explained by better coordination between emergency medical units and interventional cardiologists, and by the presence of two paramedics in the catheterization laboratory for 24/24 7/7 pPCI since 2010 in France, in accordance with recent national regulation.

[Usefulness of transesophageal echocardiography to optimize treatment after ischemic stroke]. / Intérêt de l'échocardiographie trans-œsophagienne dans l'optimisation de la stratégie thérapeutique après un accident vasculaire cérébral ischémique.

AIM OF THE STUDY: In the setting of ischemic stroke, the place of transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) is still matter of debate. The aim of the study is to evaluate the therapeutic impact provided by TEE and to characterize patients in whom TEE is warranted. PATIENTS AND METHOD: Three hundred and fifty-nine consecutive patients were included in the study. "Decisive TEE" (DTEE) was defined by echographic findings resulting in a change of treatment, whereas "informative TEE" (ITEE) was defined by TEE revealing a potential cardiac or aortic source of embolism. RESULTS: Three hundred and forty-one patients underwent TEE. Twenty-eight patients (8.2%) had DTEE and 184 (53.9%) had ITEE. DTEE were as follows: thrombus in the left atrial appendage in 6 patients, complex aortic plaques in 10 patients, patent foramen ovale (PFO) associated with atrial septal aneurism (ASA) and an important right to left shunt (3 patients), FOP associated with ASA and lower limb phlebitis (1 patient), 4 cases of endocarditis and 4 patients with intense spontaneous echo contrast in the left atrium. In most cases of DTEE (67.8%), the patient was given anticoagulation drugs. Left atrial dilatation (P=0.005) and multivessel territory stroke (P=0.018) were statistically predictive of DTEE. CONCLUSIONS: In the setting of ischemic stroke, TEE provides important additional informations, but modifies therapeutic strategy in less than 10% of cases. Multivessel territory stroke, and left atrial dilatation were predictive of DTEE.

[Cardiac magnetic resonance with a MRI compatible pacemaker]. / IRM cardiaque avec un stimulateur IRM compatible.

Patients with cardiac implantable electronic devices are usually excluded from MRI examinations due to contraindication for MRI. The MRI-conditional pacemaker system may allow the benefits of MRI (system 1.5T) to be more accessible to pacemaker patients. A 62-year-old man was admitted with acute coronary syndrome and atrial fibrillation. A conventional angiography showed normal coronaries. A cardiac cardioversion revealed a significant sinus node dysfunction and a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) compatible dual chamber system was implanted. At 6-week follow-up, a cardiac MRI revealed a typical anterior myocardial infarction with diagnostic quality images despite pacemaker. This is one of the first reports of cardiovascular MRI in a patient with MRI-conditional pacing system.

[Acute type-B aortic dissection associated with isthmic coarctation in adult]. / Dissection de l'aorte descendante révélant une coarctation méconnue chez l'adulte.

The authors report a case of acute type-B aortic dissection in association with an unknown isthmic coarctation in a 30-year-old adult. Successful surgical repair was performed 6 months later without cardiopulmonary bypass. Physiopathological aspects and surgical strategy are discussed. Acute aortic dissection distal to isthmic coarctation is extremely rare and has been reported in only 5 other cases. Present case is the first, to our knowledge, to be operated without cardiopulmonary bypass.

[Evaluation of a selective strategy for glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors administration in non-ST segment elevation acute coronary syndromes]. / Évaluation d'une stratégie sélective de prescription des antagonistes de la glycoprotéine IIb/IIIa dans les syndromes coronariens aigus sans sus-décalage du segment ST.

AIMS: We evaluated the impact of a selective strategy for glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors administration in non ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome. PATIENTS AND METHOD: Between February 1st, 2007, and February 1st, 2009, 331 consecutive patients were prospectively included in the study. Criteria for upstream glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors administration were as follows: transient ST elevation greater than 1mm, ST-segment depression greater than 2mm, ischemic recurrence, TIMI risk score greater than 5. Global mortality and cardiovascular outcomes were assessed at Day 7 and Day 30. RESULTS: The overall use of glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors was 16%. The procedure was successfully applied in 98%. Compared with non eligible patients (group 1, n = 254), eligible patients (group 2, n = 77) had a higher risk profile, median age: 73 versus 66, p < 0.01, TIMI risk score: 4 versus 3, p < 0.001. Eligible patients (66%) actually received the treatment. Among the 26 eligible but untreated patients, 19% had major bleeding risk, 34% had an unfavourable risk-benefit ratio and 34% were not suitable for an invasive strategy. Cardiovascular events occurred in 5.1% at Day 7 (Group 1, 1.6%), and 6.0% at Day 30 (group 1, 2.4%). Overall mortality at Day 30 was 1.2% (0.4% in Group 1). CONCLUSION: A strategy for glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors administration in non ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome restricted to 4 very high risk situations may be considered, without evidence for a loss of chance in intermediate risk patients, untreated although eligible for treatment according to the current guidelines.

[Secondary prevention after acute coronary syndrome: therapeutic goals achievement in relation with changes in guidelines]. / Prévention secondaire après syndrome coronarien aigu: évolution des recommandations et niveaux d'atteinte des objectifs.

BACKGROUND: Secondary prevention is a key strategy for reducing levels of coronary heart disease, but a gap between guidelines and practice remains. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this double-part survey was to evaluate the improvement in secondary prevention one year after acute coronary syndrome (ACS) in real life, between 1999 and 2005, with respect to the change in guidelines. METHODS: Two surveys of almost similar design were performed in 1999 and 2005-2006. In each survey, unselected consecutive patients suffering from ACS (n=112 hospitalized in 1998, and n=110 in 2004) were evaluated at admission, and one year after hospitalization, for the risk factors, lifestyle, and achievement of therapeutic goals recommended by the most recent guidelines. Follow-up (FU) data were obtained by mail and phone contact with patient, general practitioner and cardiologist, and medical laboratory when appropriate. RESULTS: At 1-year FU (n=192 survivors with FU), smoking cessation (87% in 1999 versus 89% in 2005) and obesity (13% versus 19%, respectively) did not vary significantly. Blood pressure was controlled (< 140/90 mmHg, excepted in diabetics in 2005 with less than 130/80 mmHg) in 65% versus 80% (p<0.03). The rate of patients with no or controlled diabetes mellitus decreased from 1999 to 2005 (90% versus 76%), despite more intensive treatment (insulin in 1% versus 20%).The goals for LDL cholesterol were achieved in 47% of patients in 1999 (< 3.4 mmol/L) and in 76% in 2005 (< 2.6 mmol/L) (p<0.0001). Goals for triglycerides were achieved in 86% in 1999 (< 2g/L), and in 80% in 2005 (< 1.5 g/L) (NS). Besides, 63% of patients received an hypolipemic drug in 1999 (a statin in 59%) and 91% in 2005 (a statin in 88%). Mean number of controlled risk factors was 3.96+/-1.52 in 1999 versus 4.94+/-1.83 in 2005, and prevalence of pts with more than five controlled risk factors at one year FU increased from 15 to 44% (p<0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: These results, drawn from unselected consecutive patients managed in real life, demonstrate an improvement in secondary prevention one year after ACS, between 1999 and 2005, despite strengthened guidelines for blood pressure, triglycerides and LDL cholesterol levels. Control of obesity and diabetes remains unoptimal.